A ranking professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey is under investigation in connection with the death of his estranged wife, whose body was found dumped in San Benito County, a spokesman for the county sheriff's department said Friday.

Authorities identified a body found on Sept. 7 off Highway 101 between Gilroy and Prunedale (Monterey County) as Norife Jones, 29, a resident of Monterey and San Jose, said sheriff's Sgt. Tony Lamonica.

An autopsy found evidence of foul play, Lamonica said. He would not reveal what the evidence is.

Officers executed a search warrant at her home in Monterey and determined that she had been killed there, Lamonica said.

Investigators detained her husband, Lawrence Jones, 69, Friday morning in Los Angeles County, Lamonica said. Investigators say he is a suspect and is being questioned.

The couple's five-year marriage recently hit a rough patch, Lamonica said. Investigators are looking into some divorce papers that were filed, though they're not sure yet if the split was final.

Norife Jones had no family in the Bay Area, Lamonica said, but authorities were able to notify her next of kin in the Philippines.